Wishing Well Appeal smashes target

Staff at Haskins Roundstone Garden Centre in Angmering have exceeded their fundraising target to pay for Canine Partners to train a new puppy.

Over two years, the team raised £6,564 for the charity through fundraising initiatives at the garden centre.

Mel Howick, customer services team leader, said: “The whole team has thoroughly enjoyed raising funds for Canine Partners. We are all huge dog fans here and it was great that so many customers backed our fundraising efforts, too.

“We’re so proud that we’ve smashed our target and we now need to come up with a name for the new puppy.”

Canine Partners relies on public donations to help people with physical disabilities by partnering them with assistance dogs. It costs £5,000 to purchase a puppy and pay for training, equipment, toys, vet bills, insurance and transport.

Jane Grant, corporate and community engagement manager for Canine Partners, said: “We are extremely grateful to Haskins Roundstone’s staff and customers for raising so much money for Canine Partners through their Wishing Well Appeal.

“They have raised enough to name one of our puppies and sponsor it through its first year of training with one of our volunteer puppy parents.

“We receive no government funding, so we rely on the generosity of supporters like Haskins in order to raise the money we need to continue transforming the lives of disabled people through our amazing dogs.

“Canine partners are trained to help with a range of everyday tasks, including opening doors, picking up dropped items, undressing a person and even unloading a washing machine. These skills help our dogs change lives by boosting disabled people’s independence and confidence.”

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